Top Ten Tuesday is a weekly feature hosted at That Artsy Reader Girl. Each week you compile a list of ten books which coincide with that week’s theme. You can find everything you need to know about joining in here!
This week’s theme is ‘Book Characters I’d Love to Be Besties With (submitted by Michelle @ Pink Polka Dot Blog)’, so today I thought I’d share with you my favourite characters from 2019 so far!
These are all characters from books I’ve read in 2019, but not necessarily from books published in 2019, and I love all of them. I’ve had a really good reading year so far and characters make a book for me, so I wouldn’t have enjoyed any of these books anywhere near as much without these characters!
Sancia from Foundryside by Robert Jackson Bennett: In what world wasn’t I going to love a queer thief in an Italian-inspired fantasy setting? Thieves are probably one of the biggest tropes in fantasy, but I still love to read them when they’re done well and Sancia really was. She doesn’t feel like a stereotypical thief, she feels like a person who also just happens to be skilled at thieving, and I love that about her.
Circe from Circe by Madeline Miller: Circe is basically a character study and it’s beautifully written, so there was no way I wasn’t going to fall in love with Circe herself. I have such warm feelings for her and I love her a lot; the way she stops seeking power and approval from others and discovers it within herself is perfection.
Irina, Wanda and Miryem from Spinning Silver by Naomi Novik: This novel is one of my new all-time favourite novels and my book of the year so far, and I adore all three of its heroines too much to only pick one.
Louvaen from Entreat Me by Grace Draven: Louvaen is so much fun. She knows herself, she’s so comfortable in her own skin, and she gives as good as she gets.
Maggie from Trail of Lightning by Rebecca Roanhorse: Maggie needs some therapy, the poor woman’s been through a hell of a lot of crap, and I love her because she’s not a particularly friendly person, and I have a bit of a thing for unfriendly women in fiction. She’s a survivor and she’s here to do her job whether other people like her or not.
Jane from Dread Nation by Justina Ireland: Jane is another character who isn’t always particularly likable, but she’s also a black teenager living in a society where her worth is measured by whether or not she’s willing to die for a white girl. I loved the way she was written and I love how she’s not necessarily a very reliable narrator.
Jude from The Cruel Prince and The Wicked King by Holly Black: Much like Maggie, Jude needs some serious therapy. I wasn’t expecting to love this series as much as I do, and while I love Black’s world-building and how she writes the fae, so much of my love for this series is down to Jude, who is such a compelling, car-crash kind of protagonist that I just can’t look away from.
Zoya from King of Scars by Leigh Bardugo: I finally read the Grisha trilogy this year and Zoya was my favourite character in that trilogy, then she was a point of view character in King of Scars and, frankly, I didn’t know how much I needed that in my life. Zoya’s another character who’s kind of mean, and I love her for it; especially when she’s spent so long being disliked by Grisha fans thanks to Alina’s girl hate. She’s trying to lead an army, she doesn’t have time to smile and look pretty. (Well, she does, but she’ll smile and look pretty once she’s kicked your ass.)
Lazlo from Strange the Dreamer by Laini Taylor: Lazlo is quite possibly the sweetest character in YA fantasy and I love him a lot. I love that he looks like a bit of a thug at first glance because he’s tall and broad and has a crooked nose, but in reality he’s a boy who broke his nose because he dropped a book of fairy tales on it. He’s the cutest of patooties.
Baz from Carry On by Rainbow Rowell: Baz is a gay mess and I love him. He looks so composed on the outside, and then you read his point of view chapters and realise he’s a complete wreck. Bless his heart.
I love that you added Circe, she’s definitely hard NOT to fall in love with ❤ And Baz, gotta love Baz. I'm currently still reading King of Scars, but I already understand the Zoya love 🙂
LikeLiked by 1 person
Sancia, Maggie, and Baz are all awesome! Great choices!
LikeLiked by 1 person
I love Jude! And you’re right… she totally needs therapy. LOL But I have to admire her willingness to do whatever it takes for the endgame.
Tanya @ Girl Plus Books
http://girlplusbooks.blogspot.com
LikeLiked by 1 person
Yes to all of these but especially Zoya and Circe! And, okay, fair, I haven’t actually read Circe yet but I have a pretty good idea of how I’ll feel about it and that I’m going to end up loving it so I hope I’m right!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Awesome list! I love all the artwork you used in your post. 🙂
Krystianna @ Downright Dystopian
LikeLiked by 1 person
Ah, I just read Circe and loved it! She’s an amazing character. I love Baz and Maggie too. Great choices!
LikeLiked by 1 person
I forgot all about Sancia or else I would have included her on my list this week. She’s a great choice!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Jane from Dread Nation is amazing. I loved her so much. And also, Maggie because she’s such a hard character and isn’t an easy person to get to know. Great list!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thanks for the list!
LikeLiked by 1 person
This is such a wholesome list! I’m embarrassed to say I literally know no one from it, though, except Baz and Zoya (I love Zoya too!!) but, on the other hand, I’ve found all these amazing books to add to my TBR 😀 So thanks so much for sharing ❤
LikeLiked by 1 person
Oh and I forgot Jude! I did find her a really interesting character but I’m still not sure how I feel about being her bestie hahaha
LikeLiked by 1 person
Jane and Lazlo! I love them both. And of course, who doesn’t love Zoya after how fabulous she was in King of Scars.
Awesome list!
LikeLiked by 1 person
I love Jude and Zoya!
LikeLiked by 1 person
These are great picks. So many of these are on my TBR. I can’t wait to get to Spinning Silver. I adore Jude as well.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Foundryside and Circe are two books I still need to read, so it’s neat to see those picks! Especially Circe- it seems to get such good buzz. And Trail of Lightning as well.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Oh yes, I loved all the girls from Spinning Silver! And I love all the fanart you’ve featured in this post.
LikeLiked by 1 person
I’ve seen good reviews for Spinning Silver, but never read it or anything else by Naomi. Still they look interesting, so perhaps someday I’ll remedy this. 🙂 Thanks so much for visiting Finding Wonderland, Jess.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Lazlo is a great character. So is Jude, although I doubt she’d make a very good bestie (but I like your twist on this topic that allows her to be here).
LikeLiked by 1 person
These fan art photos that you included (unless I’m wrong and they are the official art, and if so I apologize for my error!) are great 🙂 They make me want to read these books even more. I swear, I’ll never finish my TBR 😀
LikeLiked by 1 person
No need to apologise, they’re all fan art as far as I’m aware! 😁 Aside from the painting of Circe, which is a painting of Circe by a 19th-20th century painter which I really like. There are some amazing artists out there, aren’t there? I’m always drawn to books with a lot of fan artists, too. 😊
LikeLike
You’ve listed some of my favorite characters too! Lazlo!!! And Maggie 😁
LikeLiked by 1 person
Okay, now I really do need to read Circe.
My TTT.
LikeLiked by 1 person
I hope you enjoy it! 🙂
LikeLiked by 1 person
Maggie does sound like an interesting person to hang out with.
Here is our Top Ten Tuesday.
LikeLiked by 1 person
I certainly think so! 😀
LikeLike
Ah yes Sancia is such a great pick. I love her. She deserves all the cuddles to be honest.
LikeLike
She does! I’m really looking forward to the next book.
LikeLiked by 1 person
They all sound awesome!
Lotte | http://www.lottelauv.blogspot.co.uk
LikeLiked by 1 person
They’re great! 😀
LikeLike